Evolução do uso e ocupação do campo de dunas do morro Santa Terezinha, Fortaleza/CE

Abstract

Urban growth of Fortaleza happened without taking into account any measures of protection and preservation of coastal environments, thus several impacts on the environment occurred. The study area is located on dunes and paleodunes on the east coast of the city of Fortaleza. The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of land use and occupation in the Santa Terezinha dune field considering geo-environmental characteristics. Orthophoto maps and a planialtimetric base on a scale of 1:5.000 were used for analysis of the rate of urbanization and the development of the digital terrain model and a map of declivity. The statistical data and their representation through graphs allowed the determination of the rate of occupation. The results showed that the anthropized area in 2008 accounted for 238.4 hectares, 76% of the total area. In dynamic analysis of the relief, the area was divided into sections suitable and unsuitable for urban settlement, considering the steepness of the slopes and the dominant physical processes. The sectors located between the steep slopes and the tops of hills are those most susceptible to instability and inappropriate urban occupation. We also concluded that a great part of the Santa Terezinha hill has geotechnically unstable areas, inadequate urbanization and requiring better planning of land use and occupation.